Abstract: It is widely acknowledged that there is a shortage of software developers, not only in South Africa, but also worldwide. Despite reports on a gap between industry needs and software education, the gap has mostly been explored in quantitative studies. This paper reports on the qualitative data of a mixed method study of the perceptions of professional software developers regarding what topics they learned from their formal education and the importance of these topics to their actual work. The analysis suggests that there is a gap between industry’s needs and software development education and the following recommendations are made: 1) Real-life projects must be included in students’ education; 2) Soft skills and business skills must be included in curricula; 3) Universities must keep the curriculum up to date; 4) Software development education must be made accessible to a diverse range of students.
Abstract: Cobalt was acid nitric leached from a mixed cobaltcopper
oxide with variable acid concentration. Resulting
experimental data were used to analyze effects of increase in acid
concentration, based on a shrinking core model of the process. The
mathematical simulation demonstrated that the time rate of the
dissolution mechanism is an increasing function of acid
concentration. It was also shown that the magnitude of the acid
concentration effect is time dependent and the increase in acid
concentration is more effective at earlier stage of the dissolution than
at later stage. The remaining process parameters are comprehensively
affected by acid concentration and their interaction is synergetic.
Abstract: The nature of wireless ad hoc and sensor networks
make them very attractive to attackers. One of the most popular and
serious attacks in wireless ad hoc networks is wormhole attack and
most proposed protocols to defend against this attack used
positioning devices, synchronized clocks, or directional antennas.
This paper analyzes the nature of wormhole attack and existing
methods of defending mechanism and then proposes round trip time
(RTT) and neighbor numbers based wormhole detection mechanism.
The consideration of proposed mechanism is the RTT between two
successive nodes and those nodes- neighbor number which is needed
to compare those values of other successive nodes. The identification
of wormhole attacks is based on the two faces. The first consideration
is that the transmission time between two wormhole attack affected
nodes is considerable higher than that between two normal neighbor
nodes. The second detection mechanism is based on the fact that by
introducing new links into the network, the adversary increases the
number of neighbors of the nodes within its radius. This system does
not require any specific hardware, has good performance and little
overhead and also does not consume extra energy. The proposed
system is designed in ad hoc on-demand distance vector (AODV)
routing protocol and analysis and simulations of the proposed system
are performed in network simulator (ns-2).
Abstract: This paper focuses on a critical component of the
situational awareness (SA), the control of autonomous vertical flight for tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (TUAV). With the SA strategy,
we proposed a two stage flight control procedure using two autonomous control subsystems to address the dynamics variation
and performance requirement difference in initial and final stages of flight trajectory for a nontrivial nonlinear eight-rotor helicopter
model. This control strategy for chosen model of mini-TUAV has been verified by simulation of hovering maneuvers using software
package Simulink and demonstrated good performance for fast
stabilization of engines in hovering, consequently, fast SA with
economy in energy of batteries can be asserted during search-andrescue
operations.
Abstract: The increasing number of senior population gradually
causes to demand the use of information and communication
technology for their satisfactory lives. This paper presents the
development of an integrated TV based system which offers an
opportunity to provide value added services to a large number of
elderly citizens, and thus helps improve their quality of life. The
design philosophy underlying this paper is to fulfill both technological
and human aspects. The balance between these two dimensions has
been currently stressed as a crucial element for the design of usable
systems in real use, particularly to the elderly who have physical and
mental decline. As the first step to achieve it, we have identified
human and social factors that affect the elder-s quality of life by a
literature review, and based on them, build four fundamental services:
information, healthcare, learning and social network services.
Secondly, the system architecture, employed technologies and the
elderly-friendly system design considerations are presented. This
reflects technological and human perspectives in terms of the system
design. Finally, we describe some scenarios that illustrate the
potentiality of the proposed system to improve elderly people-s quality
of life.
Abstract: This study focuses on teamwork in Finnish working
life. Through a wide cross-section of teams the study examines the
causes to which team members attribute the outcomes of their teams.
Qualitative data was collected from 314 respondents. They wrote 616
stories to describe memorable experiences of success and failure in
teamwork. The stories revealed 1930 explanations. The findings
indicate that both favorable and unfavorable team outcomes are
perceived as being caused by the characteristics of team members,
relationships between members, team communication, team
structure, team goals, team leadership, and external forces. The types
represent different attribution levels in the context of organizational
teamwork.
Abstract: In this paper multi-objective genetic algorithms are
employed for Pareto approach optimization of ideal Turboshaft
engines. In the multi-objective optimization a number of conflicting
objective functions are to be optimized simultaneously. The
important objective functions that have been considered for
optimization are specific thrust (F/m& 0), specific fuel consumption
( P S ), output shaft power 0 (& /&) shaft W m and overall efficiency( ) O
η .
These objectives are usually conflicting with each other. The design
variables consist of thermodynamic parameters (compressor pressure
ratio, turbine temperature ratio and Mach number).
At the first stage single objective optimization has been
investigated and the method of NSGA-II has been used for multiobjective
optimization. Optimization procedures are performed for
two and four objective functions and the results are compared for
ideal Turboshaft engine. In order to investigate the optimal
thermodynamic behavior of two objectives, different set, each
including two objectives of output parameters, are considered
individually. For each set Pareto front are depicted. The sets of
selected decision variables based on this Pareto front, will cause the
best possible combination of corresponding objective functions.
There is no superiority for the points on the Pareto front figure,
but they are superior to any other point. In the case of four objective
optimization the results are given in tables.
Abstract: Abai Kunanbayev is famous for being enlightener,
composer, interpreter, social agent, philosopher, reformer, who
wanted to enrich Kazakh literature by emergence with Russian and
European culture, and also as a founder of Kazakh written literary
language. Abai Kunanbayev was born in 1845 in East Kazakhstan
area and passed away in 1904 in his hometown. His oeuvre absorbed
and reflected all changes in the life of Kazakh society of the second
half of XIX century. Because ХІХ century, especially its second half,
was an important transition period for Kazakhstan, which radically
changed traditional way of Kazakh society and predetermined further
development in consequence of activation of Russian colonial policy
and approval of commodity-money relations in Steppe Land.Abai
Kunanbayev, besides Arabic and Persian common words and
loanwords from Quran in his words of edification, had used a lot of
words of Arabic, Persian, Latin, Russian, Nogai, Shaghatai, Polish,
Greek, Turkish, which are used in the Kazakh language.
Abstract: The six sigma method is a project-driven management approach to improve the organization-s products, services, and processes by continually reducing defects in the organization. Understanding the key features, obstacles, and shortcomings of the six sigma method allows organizations to better support their strategic directions, and increasing needs for coaching, mentoring, and training. It also provides opportunities to better implement six sigma projects. The purpose of this paper is the survey of six sigma process and its impact on the organizational productivity. So I have studied key concepts , problem solving process of six sigmaas well as the survey of important fields such as: DMAIC, six sigma and productivity applied programme, and other advantages of six sigma. In the end of this paper, present research conclusions. (direct and positive relation between six sigma and productivity)
Abstract: Today, Higher Education in a global scope is subordinated to the greater institutional controls through the policies of the Quality of Education. These include processes of over evaluation of all the academic activities: students- and professors- performance, educational logistics, managerial standards for the administration of institutions of higher education, as well as the establishment of the imaginaries of excellence and prestige as the foundations on which universities of the XXI century will focus their present and future goals and interests. But at the same time higher education systems worldwide are facing the most profound crisis of sense and meaning and attending enormous mutations in their identity. Based in a qualitative research approach, this paper shows the social configurations that the scholars at the Universities in Mexico build around the discourse of the Quality of Education, and how these policies put in risk the social recognition of these individuals.
Abstract: Despite many success stories of manufacturing safety, many organizations are still reluctant, perceiving it as cost increasing and time consuming. The clear contributor may be due to the use of lagging indicators rather than leading indicator measures. The study therefore proposes a combinatorial model for determining the best safety strategy. A combination theory and cost benefit analysis was employed to develop a monetary saving / loss function in terms value of preventions and cost of prevention strategy. Documentations, interviews and structured questionnaire were employed to collect information on Before-And-After safety programme records from a Tobacco company between periods of 1993-2001(for pre-safety) and 2002-2008 (safety period) for the model application. Three combinatorial alternatives A, B, C were obtained resulting into 4, 6 and 4 strategies respectively with PPE and Training being predominant. A total of 728 accidents were recorded for a 9 year period of pre-safety programme and 163 accidents were recorded for 7 years period of safety programme. Six preventions activities (alternative B) yielded the best results. However, all the years of operation experienced except year 2004. The study provides a leading resources for planning successful safety programme
Abstract: Although the usefulness of fuzzy databases has been
pointed out in several works, they are not fully developed in numerous
domains. A task that is mostly disregarded and which is the topic
of this paper is the determination of suitable inequalities for fuzzy
sets in fuzzy query languages. This paper examines which kinds
of fuzzy inequalities exist at all. Afterwards, different procedures
are presented that appear theoretically appropriate. By being applied
to various examples, their strengths and weaknesses are revealed.
Furthermore, an algorithm for an efficient computation of the selected
fuzzy inequality is shown.
Abstract: In the last decades to supply the various and different
demands of clients, a lot of manufacturers trend to use the mixedmodel
assembly line (MMAL) in their production lines, since this
policy make possible to assemble various and different models of the
equivalent goods on the same line with the MTO approach.
In this article, we determine the sequence of (MMAL) line, with
applying the kitting approach and planning of rest time for general
workers to reduce the wastages, increase the workers effectiveness
and apply the sector of lean production approach.
This Multi-objective sequencing problem solved in small size with
GAMS22.2 and PSO meta heuristic in 10 test problems and compare
their results together and conclude that their results are very similar
together, next we determine the important factors in computing the
cost, which improving them cost reduced. Since this problem, is NPhard
in large size, we use the particle swarm optimization (PSO)
meta-heuristic for solving it. In large size we define some test
problems to survey it-s performance and determine the important
factors in calculating the cost, that by change or improved them
production in minimum cost will be possible.
Abstract: In response to address different development challenges, Tanzania is striving to achieve its fourth attribute of the National Development Vision, i.e. to have a well educated and learned society by the year 2025. One of the most cost effective methods that can reach a large part of the society in a short time is to integrate ICT in education through e-learning initiatives. However, elearning initiatives are challenged by limited or lack of connectivity to majority of secondary schools, especially those in rural and remote areas. This paper has explores the possibility for rural secondary school to access online e-Learning resources from a centralized e- Learning Management System (e-LMS). The scope of this paper is limited to schools that have computers irrespective of internet connectivity, resulting in two categories schools; those with internet access and those without. Different connectivity configurations have been proposed according to the ICT infrastructure status of the respective schools. However, majority of rural secondary schools in Tanzania have neither computers nor internet connection. Therefore this is a challenge to be addressed for the disadvantaged schools to benefit from e-Learning initiatives.
Abstract: The purpose of this research was develop a biological
nutrient removal (BNR) system which has low energy consumption, sludge production, and land usage. These indicate that BNR system could be a alternative of future wastewater treatment in ubiquitous
city(U-city). Organics and nitrogen compounds could be removed by this system so that secondary or tertiary stages of wastewater treatment satisfy their standards. This system was composed of oxic and anoxic
filter filed with PVDC and POM media. Anoxic/oxic filter system operated under empty bed contact time of 4 hours by increasing
recirculation ratio from 0 to 100 %. The system removals of total nitrogen and COD were 76.3% and 93%, respectively. To be observed
internal behavior in this system SCOD, NH3-N, and NO3-N were
conducted and removal shows range of 25~100%, 59~99%, and
70~100%, respectively.
Abstract: In this paper, we represent protein structure by using
graph. A protein structure database will become a graph database.
Each graph is represented by a spectral vector. We use Jacobi
rotation algorithm to calculate the eigenvalues of the normalized
Laplacian representation of adjacency matrix of graph. To measure
the similarity between two graphs, we calculate the Euclidean
distance between two graph spectral vectors. To cluster the graphs,
we use M-tree with the Euclidean distance to cluster spectral vectors.
Besides, M-tree can be used for graph searching in graph database.
Our proposal method was tested with graph database of 100 graphs
representing 100 protein structures downloaded from Protein Data
Bank (PDB) and we compare the result with the SCOP hierarchical
structure.
Abstract: Planning capacities when regenerating complex investment goods involves particular challenges in that the planning is subject to a large degree of uncertainty regarding load information. Using information fusion – by applying Bayesian Networks – a method is being developed for forecasting the anticipated expenditures (human labor, tool and machinery utilization, time etc.) for regenerating a good. The generated forecasts then later serve as a tool for planning capacities and ensure a greater stability in the planning processes.
Abstract: In this paper, the least-squares design of variable fractional-delay (VFD) finite impulse response (FIR) digital differentiators is proposed. The used transfer function is formulated so that Farrow structure can be applied to realize the designed system. Also, the symmetric characteristics of filter coefficients are derived, which leads to the complexity reduction by saving almost a half of the number of coefficients. Moreover, all the elements of related vectors or matrices for the optimal process can be represented in closed forms, which make the design easier. Design example is also presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Abstract: Noise level has critical effects on the diagnostic
performance of signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG), because
the true starting and end points of QRS complex would be masked by
the residual noise and sensitive to the noise level. Several studies and
commercial machines have used a fixed number of heart beats
(typically between 200 to 600 beats) or set a predefined noise level
(typically between 0.3 to 1.0 μV) in each X, Y and Z lead to perform
SAECG analysis. However different criteria or methods used to
perform SAECG would cause the discrepancies of the noise levels
among study subjects. According to the recommendations of 1991
ESC, AHA and ACC Task Force Consensus Document for the use of
SAECG, the determinations of onset and offset are related closely to
the mean and standard deviation of noise sample. Hence this study
would try to perform SAECG using consistent root-mean-square
(RMS) noise levels among study subjects and analyze the noise level
effects on SAECG. This study would also evaluate the differences
between normal subjects and chronic renal failure (CRF) patients in
the time-domain SAECG parameters.
The study subjects were composed of 50 normal Taiwanese and 20
CRF patients. During the signal-averaged processing, different RMS
noise levels were adjusted to evaluate their effects on three time
domain parameters (1) filtered total QRS duration (fQRSD), (2) RMS
voltage of the last QRS 40 ms (RMS40), and (3) duration of the low
amplitude signals below 40 μV (LAS40). The study results
demonstrated that the reduction of RMS noise level can increase
fQRSD and LAS40 and decrease the RMS40, and can further increase
the differences of fQRSD and RMS40 between normal subjects and
CRF patients. The SAECG may also become abnormal due to the
reduction of RMS noise level. In conclusion, it is essential to establish
diagnostic criteria of SAECG using consistent RMS noise levels for
the reduction of the noise level effects.
Abstract: Canola is a specific edible type of rapeseed, developed
in the 1970s, which contains about 40 percent oil. This research was
carried out to determine the yield and some quality characteristics of
some winter canola cultivars during the 2010-2011 vegetation period
in Central Anatolia of Turkey. In this research; Oase, Dante,
Californium, Excalibur, Elvis, ES Hydromel, Licord, Orkan, Vectra,
Nelson, Champlain and NK Petrol winter canola varieties were used
as material. The field experiment was set up in a “Randomized
Complete Block Design” with three replications on 21 September
2010. In this research; seed yield, oil content, protein content, oil
yield and protein yield were examined.
As a result of this research; seed yield, oil content, oil yield and
protein yield (except protein content) were significant differences
between the cultivars. The highest seed yield (6348 kg ha-1) was
obtained from the NK Petrol, while the lowest seed yield (3949 kg
ha-1) was determined from the Champlain cultivar was obtained. The
highest oil content (46.73%) was observed from Oase and the lowest
value was obtained from Vectra (41.87%) cultivar. The highest oil
yield (2950 kg ha-1) was determined from NK Petrol while the least
value (1681 kg ha-1) was determined from Champlain cultivar. The
highest protein yield (1539.3 kg ha-1) was obtained from NK Petrol
and the lowest protein yield (976.5 kg ha-1) was obtained from
Champlain cultivar.
The main purpose of the cultivation of oil crops, to increase the
yield of oil per unit area. According the result of this research, NK
Petrol cultivar which ranks first with regard to both seed yield and oil
yield between cultivars as the most suitable winter canola cultivar of
local conditions.